viaduct
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of viaduct
1810–20; < Latin via way + (aque)duct
Explanation
A viaduct is a bridge made of connected sections. Most viaducts are a series of arches that span a road. Some viaducts stretch across train tracks, while other carry traffic across valleys, gorges, or bodies of water. What's distinctive about older viaducts is that they're usually made of equal-sized arches all linked into one long bridge. Newer viaducts can look simply like an elevated road or highway. The word viaduct combines the Latin via, or "road," with ducere, "to lead something."
Vocabulary lists containing viaduct
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Around the World in Eighty Days
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Wise Blood
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
With its long arches and lights looming over the viaduct, the 6th Street Bridge has become a beacon for Angelenos and the curious.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2026
Dozens more were also injured in weather-related incidents in Spain, and a viaduct in Portugal partially collapsed because of flooding.
From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026
Remnants of donated props and floats from parades past lie around the space under a viaduct that doubles as a driving school parking lot.
From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026
"The viaduct holds such a special place in my family's heart, it is devastating to see the collapse of such a well-loved and iconic landmark."
From BBC • Dec. 14, 2025
He dashed across the Adams Street viaduct and was shocked at what he saw.
From "The Great Fire" by Jim Murphy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
